How did you decide what to do with your life after active duty?

PO1 Shahida Marmol — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:57:13 -0400

I plan on getting out of the Navy at the end of my enlistment. The sole reason being is I don't want to leave my kids anymore. Sea duty guarantees me I will. My issue is I joined at 17. This is all I know. I can not commit to a future job because I know I have a wide range of skill sets and I can't choose just one. So for my vets, how did you decide what to do after? I need a flexible job that way I can follow my soon to be husband around that's active duty Army. Oh and the end of my enlistment is 2019, so I have time, but we all know how quickly that flies by.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 30 at 2015 4:07 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 16:07:58 -0400

Careers find you. You don't find them...

What you plan to do may not be what you will ultimately end up doing. I was an intel analyst, so I figured I would end up a government contractor. Ended up loathing it. I ended up doing retail management, and later dispatching and office management which I really enjoy.

I use a lot of the skills I learned while I was in though. Communications, time management, supervisory, management, map reading. You will be surprised where the parallels appear.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Jul 30 at 2015 4:46 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 16:46:23 -0400

From a different stand point, and depending on how much time your husband will have left after you get out, like Sgt Kennedy stated, what you plan to do and what you end up doing may not be the same... During my marriage, we moved around 6 times... that 6 times my ex had to find a job. She is an x-ray and surgical certified dental assistant. during our moves, she was customer service for AAFES at Nellis AFB, NV, a gas station attendant at Eielson AFB, a stocker at Pope AFB... I think you get the point... When I got stationed at Nellis for the second time, she had had enough and stayed there as I went my merry way, but needless to say, she is now doing what she wanted to do, and since the job I do here doesn't exist at Nellis, I'm here at Ft Huachuca in AZ. We divorced after I retired as it didn't make sense to maintain 2 households and we had become more like friends than husband and wife... Not that any of this will happen, just another point of view since my ex was not prior military, but did have a professional career she really wanted to get back to...

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Jul 30 at 2015 6:41 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 18:41:12 -0400

PO1 Shahida Virella one thing that may help steer you to find what you will as a civilian is to take the Meyers-Briggs Assessment. (It may be Briggs-Meyers, I can never remember.) It will not tell you what you should do but show you what fields are good for you and which ones you should avoid. The career office at any community college should be able to administer the test or tell where it is administered. The test takes about half an hour. After you get the results you can see what you do fits with what is a good match. Good luck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 8:03 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 20:03:19 -0400

Don't forget there is always the National Guard. You could continue life in the military with a much less impact on your family life.

Response by SMSgt Kim Shirley made Jul 31 at 2015 2:21 AM

SMSgt Kim Shirley — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 02:21:49 -0400

Is your current military job transferable to the civilian sector ie firefighter, paralegal, corpman or is it something military specific? Get as much of your college degree completed if you haven't already. You may never use it but employers want to see it. It shows them you are dedicated to stick to something and see it through. I've not used my MBA but so glad I have it. No one can take it once you earn it!!!! Think about what you like to do if you didn't have to work, that might help steer you. I also started saving large sums of month 36 months before my retirement. Had to sacrifice but it paid off in the long run.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 31 at 2015 7:30 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 07:30:02 -0400

Your leadership skills will translate well. What are your interests? That is a good roadmap and starting point to where you want to go.